2017 waterfowl hunt opener conditions

The spring flows at Clear Lake have remained low all year because it has been another long, hot and dry summer. Water conditions are better this year and there is more available water for ducks and hunters. Unit 1, the area south of the county road, is full this year. It has great submergent growth to attract birds and should provide good hunting. Unit 2 is dry, and there will be no water north of the county road for the beginning of the season. Like last year, the water will begin to fill areas as the weather cools down. The area to the north of the county road should begin filling around December 1. The west marsh area is still dry. Conditions will improve as the season progresses: more ducks will show up and the water level will increase with each passing week.

Marsh conditions at Topaz Slough are completely dry. There was very little excess irrigation water.

Redmond has good conditions on small impoundments and also has foot access to the Sevier River.

Bicknell Bottoms has excellent conditions. Water levels are good and waterfowl numbers are up this year.

Water conditions

Clear Lake units south of the county road will be partially full: Unit 1 is full and Unit 2 will begin to fill as the weather cools. The units north of the county road will continue filling as the water becomes available because of cooler weather conditions. Please remember that Clear Lake is very shallow for boats. Only non-motorized boats are allowed on the area.

Topaz Slough is dry.

Water conditions at Redmond are good on small impoundments.

Water conditions are good at Bicknell Bottoms.

Waterfowl use

Clear Lake duck numbers increase as the season progresses. A good number of ducks show up as soon as the weather becomes colder. They usually increase until they peak around December 1. These ducks begin using flooded annual weeds and can provide some great late season hunting with easy access. The most common ducks at Clear Lake are wigeon, mallards, pintails, and greenwing teal.

Good numbers of ducks and geese are using Bicknell Bottoms. Bicknell Bottoms offers the best hunting both early season and late season when conditions are very cold. Bicknell Bottoms can have very good late season goose hunting.

Redmond is generally better for duck hunting earlier in the season

Other items

The Youth Waterfowl Hunt is September 30, 2017. The general season is open October 14, 2017 through January 27, 2018.

Youth pheasant and quail hunting is open statewide October 14–16. The waterfowl season opens October 14 in the Southern Region too.

Gunnison Bend Reservoir is a large rest area in Delta. Many waterfowl stay there during the day and fly off to go feed in the surrounding agricultural fields. You can find some success by scouting and asking permission to hunt private lands.